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Buttery croissants, a good pair of jeans and Saturdays with nothing to do but relax—these are a few of Brooklyn-based artist Joey Pasko’s favorite things. We recently had the chance to chat with Joey—but there was a catch. Rather than answering our questions with words, we asked him to sketch his responses. The (oh so adorable) results are below.

We spent an afternoon with our denim-living muse, Argentina-born Conie Vallese. The now Brooklyn-based artist is known for her trademark black and white paintings and white sculptures. She has one of those enviable careers that spans industries—her work is recognized in both the fashion and art worlds—and once you spend time with her, you begin to understand exactly why this is such a symbiotic mix.

In keeping with the creative spirit of Art Basel Miami Beach’s 12th annual fair, we joined up with online gallery Paddle8 and asked three of our favorite up-and-coming artists to put their signature styles on our signature Transport Tote. The result is a collection of completely unique leather totes-as-canvases that are so inspired you might want to hang them on your wall—and while we wouldn’t blame you for the inclination, we recommend wearing them instead. (No plane ticket? No problem. Our one-of-a-kind bags are available online here, in addition to our Miami store; details on the launch event below.) The three artists—New Yorkers, all—were putting the finishing touches on their totes when we popped by their studios last week. Click through to meet the creators.

Meet our Sketchbook Bag. In structured yet supple pebbled leather, it’s the right-sized bag that takes you from morning to night. We like to think it’s just the sort of satchel that, say, an artist might use to stash a notebook and pencils, or even an iPad. Inspired to do some sketching of your own? Here, four places that might get you on your way.

Sure, it’s got one of the best collections of modern art in the world, and the 60-foot floor-to-ceiling windows look out to Lake Michigan and Millennium Park, two of the most iconic views in the Windy City. But the building’s façade is also a must-see: the sharp angles and parallel lines are worth capturing on their own.

The steps of the historic train-station-turned-museum offer unobstructed views of the picturesque Seine. Once inside, you get to revel in one of the largest collections of impressionist and postimpressionist masterpieces in the world. Major Beauty.

You could find inspiration anywhere on the lush cliffside campus overlooking the Pacific Palisades, but the enclosed Sketching Gallery was designed with drawing in mind: quiet, always well lit and filled with easels, outlets for the digitally inclined and vibrant oil paintings to get you in the mood.

Home to approximately 22,000 objects, the V&A’s galleries house the world’s most comprehensive European sculpture collection (think stunning life-size human shapes and smaller busts, masterpieces all). Thanks to the sprawling rooms and wide halls, you needn’t worry about bumping elbows with fellow sketchers.

We’re big fans of great color (as recently evidenced by our Afternoon Dress) so when someone offers up a fresh approach to our favorite hues, we’ve got to stop and give them a shout-out.

The Colour Store is worthy of such a nod. A concise collection of small sculptural works hand-painted by NYC-based Canadian artist Shannon Harvey, The Colour Store puts iconic mid-century hues—and their incredibly rich heritage—in the spotlight.

While it doesn’t take an art history major to appreciate Harvey’s wood-frame panels, painted cubes and other object d’art, there’s a textbook-sized amount of history behind each hue she selects. (Take Bauhaus yellow, a surprisingly green-tinged shade that was used throughout the Bauhaus complex in Dessau, Germany.)

Intrigued, we paid Harvey a visit in her Lower East Side home/studio to find out more about the rainbow of references that inspires her.

WHERE SHE STARTS:

“Researching color and looking at historical photographs, books and manuals, etc., is largely a black-and-white experience. When I started to discover just how colorful the spaces of these mid-century architectural masterpieces were in reality, and just how much was lost in the translation of history, I wanted to bring a little bit of that history back to life.”

FOR EXAMPLE…

“The architect Le Corbusier had an incredible sense of color. The Carpenter Center at Harvard is his only building in North America and it’s full of bold reds, blues and greens. It’s one of the clearest examples I’ve seen of how color can change the appearance of the shape of a room.”

THE BEST WAY TO LET THE LIGHT IN:

“My favorite color is Naples yellow, a very warm shade that was painted under the eaves at the Bauhaus to bounce light in through the windows. It looks and feels like the sun.”

ON HER OWN SENSE OF COLOR:

When it comes to getting dressed, Harvey tends to stick to neutrals like grey, gold, navy and black. “Maybe because I’m so particular about color, I find it hard to wear—but I love to see it on everyone else!”

NOW, BEFORE YOU TRY TO D.I.Y. …

Keep in mind you can’t find these iconic hues at any old paint store: Harvey creates them herself, using the original mid-century ingredients and techniques that require mixing a case in binder with lime, water and pigments, then carefully matching the color to historical color cards and recipes. The result is a thick paint with a chalky texture that gives the surface a sense of depth and that can’t be reproduced any other way.

Are you a constant chronicler? Unlike the Instagram-ing masses, do you rely on something more than an iPhone for your nonstop picture-taking? Can you rattle off your favorite photographers the way most name-check celebrities?

If you answered yes to all of the above, Foam Magazine’s annual Talent Call just may be for you.

The highly esteemed Amsterdam-born quarterly photography magazine (and one of Madewell’s must-reads) holds a contest every year to find the next set of young and hungry photo talent (the age limit for entries is 18–35).

So what exactly do you win (besides major bragging rights, of course)? Your work will be published in the magazine and online, and, as if that wasn’t cool enough, also exhibited for the public to behold at Amsterdam’s annual Unseen Photo Fair.

We’re huge fans of this Brooklyn artist and couldn’t wait to collaborate with her on a few limited-edition pieces—all clearly marked by her cheery, imaginative style. Watch our interview with her and then check out the entire Rebeca Raney x Madewell collection here.

P.S. If you’re headed to Miami for Art Basel, don’t miss her exhibit at Primary Projects (where you can also snatch up a few Rebeca Raney x Madewell pieces).

I recently experienced what I would consider the perfect fall day in upstate New York, wandering around the art collections at Dia:Beacon and then exploring the sculpture park at Storm King by bike. After growing up in and out of museums with my mother (an artist), I’ve developed a funny affection for museum cafés—especially if they serve a decent cappuccino—and the one at Dia:Beacon didn’t disappoint. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the neighboring bookshop stocked a perfect selection of art and architecture books and exhibition catalogs.

As you turn the corner from the stark Blinky Palermo retrospective, you walk right into Imi Knoebel’s 24 Colors—for Blinky, 1977 (above). He created these works shortly after Blinky’s untimely death in 1977 as an homage to his great friend.

After strolling through the landscaped garden, we entered the Riggio galleries, housed in a former Nabisco printing factory. Similar to the Tate Modern, Dia:Beacon showcases art from the 1960s to the present in single dedicated artist spaces. This means entire rooms become a single world, which, in my opinion, is the most fulfilling way to experience an artist’s work. Of all the great exhibits, I was most taken by the Blinky Palermo retrospective—the first in North America!—which is on display through October 31st. (I must’ve spent an hour in this part of the museum.) Other installations not to miss are Michael Heizer’s North, East, South, West, Richard Serra’s mind-blowing Union of the Torus and the Sphere (made especially for the space) and Louise Bourgeois’ Maman (a 30-foot-tall bronze spider).

An untitled Dan Flavin sculpture (1970) lights up in front of Robert Irwin’s window treatment.

Next stop: Storm King Art Center. The weather was perfect for a day spent biking around all 500 acres of the sculpture garden: blue skies, crisp air and leaves just beginning to change (a phenomenon that never ceases to amaze this Texas-bred girl). We rented cruiser bikes and zig-zagged across the grounds, taking in every installation, each view more breathtaking than the next.

These Mark di Suvero sculptures in the South Field were my hands-down favorite.

But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that a big highlight of the trip was the end. Why? Because it involved two Applegate Farms organic hot dogs and half of a braised brisket sandwich. The proof:

Last thing: Storm King closes for the season on November 13th and doesn’t open again until the spring, so hurry up and go see it!

On one of my recent daily ventures around the blogosphere, I encountered the fantastic Wayne White—and I’ll be honest, I’m obsessed. An American artist who’s also known for his Emmy Award-winning set and puppet design for Pee-wee’s Playhouse (you should be sold on that fact alone), White grabbed my attention with his whimsical collection of “word paintings.” I’m already a typography junkie with a sincere appreciation for the absurd, so White’s traditional landscapes peppered with irreverent phrases are totally up my alley. Until I can afford an original, I’ll be poring over his book, Wayne White: Maybe Now I’ll Get the Respect I So Richly Deserve (edited by Todd Oldham), which I immediately bought as an end-of-summer gift to myself.

It’s just so good: Wayne White: Maybe Now I’ll Get the Respect I So Richly Deserve